Silla-Tang War

In this episode, we break down the Silla-Tang War and the unification of the Korean Peninsula by walking through the Three Kingdoms period and showing how Silla dynasty deliberately used its alliance with the Tang dynasty to destroy Baekje and Goguryeo before turning its armies against Tang control. This episode centers on the Battle of Maeso Fortress as the decisive moment when Silla forces drove the Tang out and forced the relocation of the Andong Protectorate, using archaeological evidence from fortress ruins and burial sites alongside written sources like the Samguk Sagi. We also show how unification reshaped the peninsula through administrative integration of elite ranks and the spread of Buddhism, revealing how warfare and diplomacy directly forged a new Korean political and cultural identity.